Government Issue vocalist John Stabb — a longtime personal fave of at least a couple of us here in Matadorville — was the victim of a gang attack last week, and as such, there's a benefit in the works. 

At the height of his creative powers, Stabb was one of the nation's more charismatic, witty front-humans, and in a just world, roving packs of teens would be vying to buy him drinks or dinner rather than nearly beating him to death. Here's wishing the Stabbster a speedy recovery.

August 11- Chicago, IL @ West Fest
September 8 – Madison, WI @ University of Wisconsin

October
10-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12-Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
13-Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
15-Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
16-Montreal, QC @ LeNational
17-Boston, MA @ The Roxy
19-Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
20-NY, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
24-Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
26-Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom

All of the October dates are supporting Spoon.

…but at least he never sicc'd Web Sheriff on anybody but nobody can accuse him of having an inflated sense of his own self-importance. Not without getting a letter from his lawyer, anyway. From the AP :

When it comes to energy drinks, rock star Jon Bon Jovi thinks an East Brunswick man gives coffee a bad name.

"As you should be aware, one of Bon Jovi's most popular songs is entitled "It's My Life," the letter states. "We hereby demand that you immediately cease and desist all further use of the name "Mijovi' and "It's My Life.' "

If JBJ is successful in halting sales of this (gross sounding) drink, presumably Richie Sambora will be emboldened to go after anyone selling Sambuca. Likewise, what is stopping Tico Torres from threatening action against Taco Bell?

Jason Simon, New Year's Eve 2007, pic by The Photographer

Jul 29 2007 Echoplex (under the Echo)    Los Angeles, California
Aug 7 2007 Paradiso    Amsterdam
Aug 8 2007 The Audio    Brighton
Aug 9 2007 Cargo    London
Aug 10 2007  Norwich Arts Centre    Norwich
Aug 11 2007  The Cluny    Newcastle
Aug 12 2007  The Faversham    Leeds
Aug 13 2007  The Maze    Nottingham
Aug 14 2007  Nice 'n' Sleazy    Glasgow
Aug 15 2007  Thekla    Bristol
Aug 16 2007  The Point    Cardiff
Aug 17 2007  The Green Man Festival, Glanusk Park, Brecon Beacons
Aug 18 2007  The Cellar    Oxford
Aug 19 2007  Taylor John's House    Coventry
Aug 20 2007  Music Box, Manchester
Aug 23 2007  Magnolia    Milano
Aug 24 2007  Rock and Rodes    Sondrio
Aug 25 2007  Hana-bi – Marina di Ravenna    Ravenna

Jered and Melissa at Pitchfork, July 15, pic swiped from Kirstiecat's Flikr page

20 Jul 2007 Cambridge, MA, Middle East (upstairs)
21 Jul 2007 New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
22 Jul 2007 Asbury Park, New Jersey, Ashbury Lanes
23 Jul 2007  Washington DC,  Black Cat
24 Jul 2007 Columbus, OH  Skully's
25 Jul 2007 Newport, Kentucky, Southgate House

SM + Bob Nastanovich, performing a little something called "Trigger Cut", Pitchfork Fest, Sunday, 7/16.

(Chan belting it out on Saturday, pic swiped from kirstiecat's flickr page)

With all due respect to Slint, Sonic Youth, Mastodon, Clipse, Cat Power & The Dirty Delta Blues (anyone know if this Bauer fella's been in a band before), all of whom were terrific the past two days, my tip for the PF 2007 Momento goes to the following : 

Moments before Sonic Youth took the stage Friday evening, the Union Park audience was reminded that Yoko Ono would headlining the following night.  An announcement which was met with a chorus of boos. 

Man, talk about holding a grudge.

Should be a great tour…and check out the playing partners, too.

7-29 Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Picnic
09-13 Victoria, British Columbia – McPherson Ballroom #&
09-14 Seattle, WA – Showbox #!
09-15 Seattle, WA – Showbox #!
09-16 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom #!
09-17 San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre #!
09-18 San Diego, CA – House of Blues #!
09-19 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theater #!
09-20 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theater #@
09-21 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre #@
09-22 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater #@
09-24 Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater #@
09-25 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot #@
09-26 Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre #@
09-28 Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore Ballroom #!
10-11 Edmonton, Alberta – Edmonton Event Center $
10-12 Calgary, Alberta – MacEwen Hall $
10-13 Calgary, Alberta – MacEwen Hall $
10-14 Missoula, MT – University Theater $
10-15 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Garrick Center $
10-16 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue $^
10-17 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theatre $^
10-18 Chicago, IL – The Metro $^
10-19 Chicago, IL – The Metro $^
10-20 Buffalo, NY – Riviera Theatre $^
10-21 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix Concert Theatre $^
10-24 New York, NY – Webster Hall $^
10-25 New York, NY – Webster Hall $&
10-26 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero $&
10-27 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club $^
10-31 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues $&
11-01 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live $+
11-02 Dallas, TX – House of Blues $+
11-03 Austin, TX – Fun Fun Fun Festival
11-05 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre $

(& with Immaculate Machine
# with Lavender Diamond
! with Fancey
@ with the Awkward Stage
$ with Emma Pollock
^ with Benjy Ferree
+ with Spoon)

For the A/V inclined, here's a tutorial on how to get onboard the Buy Early Get Now train to bonus box-set bliss.

Much as I hate to call Rolling Stone's readers a bunch of chumps, they and the venerable rock journal have colluded on a poll of "The Twenty Most Annoying Songs".  Suffice to say, I am confident the Matablog's readers have some more interesting choices up their sleeves.

1. Black Eyed Peas,  “My Humps”
2. Los Del Rio, “Macarena”
3. Baha Men, “Who Let The Dogs Out”
4. Celine Dion, “My Heart Will Go On”
5. Nickelback,  “Photograph”
6. Lou Bega, “Mambo No. 5″
7. James Blunt,  “You’re Beautiful”
8. Spice Girls,  “Wannabe”
9. Sisqo,  “The Thong Song”
10. Cher, “Believe”
11. Aqua, “Barbie Girl”
12. Chumbawumba, “Tub Thumper”
13. Rednex, “Cotton-Eyed Joe”
14. Eiffel 65, “Blue”
15. Crash Test Dummies,  “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”
16. Meat Loaf, “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)”
17. 'NSYNC,  “Bye, Bye, Bye”
18. Ricky Martin, “Livin’ La Vida Loca”
19. Semisonic, “Closing Time”
20. Wham!, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"

That's it?  No "Safety Dance"?  How about "Keep Your Hands To Yourself"?  "We Didn't Start The Fire"?  And other than a wretched sense of history, how did Stacy Q not make the cut?